This year’s The Armory Show took place on September 9-11 at the Javits Center in Manhattan. After the completion of the show in March 2020, the organizers had to postpone the next exhibition for 18 months. Compared to many other fairs, the Armory Show has been less affected by COVID-19. With travel restrictions eased, galleries across the region are returning to art fairs with enthusiasm.
About 247 galleries from more than 30 countries participated in this year’s show. The themes of the “Focus” and “Platform” exhibition areas were “Landscape Undone” and “Monumental Change”; the former was organized by Carla Acevedo-Yayes and the later was curated by Tovias Ostrander, Associate Curator of Latin America Estrellita B. Brodsky at Tate Modern, London. There was also a new program at the fair this year– Armory Spotlight, which offered free booths for New York’s cultural institutions. The inaugural winner was “The Kitchen”, one of the oldest spaces in New York, established in 1971. It is known for its cross-disciplinary, experimental art and performance. In this exhibition, they opened the archives for live recording from 1976 to 1986 to re-examine the artistic development during that period of time, through music and the archives. The Armory Show, in partnership with the UK’s Cristea Roberts Gallery, showcased prints by Portuguese-British artist Paula Rego at the Crystal Palace at the Javits Center. Her work often reflects women’s rights and themes from her hometown Portugal.
This year’s “Focus” exhibition area included the theme “Landscape Undone” focuses on solo and duo artists, environmental issues, and individual and world issues. “Landscape” has always been a common theme in art and is often considered to be at true expression of our surrounding environment. However, landscapes are not always completely natural, it also includes social, political, and cultural constructions, far beyond what we can see with the naked eye. The exhibition explores human beings through the perspective of art, the complexity of existence, and the interrelationship between man and nature. The “Platform” exhibition area with the theme of “Monumental Change” exhibited large scale installation art and local art. With decolonization as the core policy, it raises questions about the historial narrative of contemporary art and large scale installation works through the transformation of the form and material of traditional monuments. Paula Rego’s “abortion” prints were on display at the Crystal Palace. The complex imagery presents a world shaped by the patriarchy, depicting women who suffer from illegal abortions but still showing perseverance and strength. Rego will had a retrospective at the Tate Modern in June 2022 and participated in the 2022 Venice Biennale. Sadly she also passed away this year. In keeping with Rego’s ongoing emphasis on aborition issues, her family will donate a position of the proceeds from her work to relevant organizations.
The Armory Show 2022
September, 9-11
VIP Preview September 8
2022 Javits Center, New York
Photo 1：Ana Teresa Fernández, The Space Between Us, 2021 © Ana Teresa Fernández
Photo 2 top left：Yinka Shonibare CBE, Food Kid (Boy), 2021 © Yinka Shonibare CBE
Photo 2 Top middle：Lucia Vidales, fat ass long hair 2021© Lucia Vidales
Photo 2 top right：Bettina Pousttchi, Vertical Highways A22, 2021 © Bettina Pousttchi
Photo 2 bottom：Dana Claxton, Easy Rider NDN, 2022 © Dana Claxton
